Free Males (Ces Hommes libres)

A Pyramide production in colaboration with France 3 Cinema, Solaire Prods. and VMP. (Worldwide sales: Pyramide, Paris.) Produced by Fabienne Vonier. Directed by Ismael Ferroukhi. Script, Ferroukhi, Alan-Michel Blanc.Younes - Tahar Rahim Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit - Michael Lonsdale Salim - Mahmoud Shalaby Leila - Lubna Azabal Maj. Von Ratibor - Christopher Buchholz Ali - Farid Larbi Francis - Stephane RideauA satisfying war time espionage drama dedicated to little-noted crossing points between Arabic emigres as well as the French Resistance, "Free Males" stars "A Prophet's" Tahar Rahim just like a black marketeer taken up among dangerous intrigue in German-occupied Paris. Loosely inspired by actual occasions, this well-crafted sophomore feature from director-coscenarist Ismael Ferroukhi (concentrating on an even more ambitious scale in comparison to his 2004 debut "Le grand voyage") should garner sufficiently strong enough reviews and audience response further over the fest circuit to draw some offshore rollouts following its Sept. 28 Gallic launch. Among a wave of North African employees who turned up around the colonial keeper's shores before global conflict closed France's immigration-friendly edges, Younges (Rahim) has extended since lost his factory job. Now, in 1942, he subsists selling illegal goods hands-to-hands, wanting to enhance enough funds revisit his native Algeria. Involved with less cash-focused but equally furtive tasks are cousin Ali (Farid Larbi), a union agitator who offers the government physiques a lot more reason to look him lower just like a Resistance leader, his hope (a grimly ironic one, given subsequent occasions) being that efforts to liberate France might encourage that nation to free its own remaining colonies. When gendarmes come banging on Younges' door, Ali beats a hair's-breadth retreat, but Younges is caught red-colored-colored-handed within the own illicit trade. With prison his only alternative, he confirms to "watchInch around the local mosque suspected of hiding Jews and passing them off as Muslims to have the ability to hustle them somewhere safe. Cordialities between likely to rector Si Kaddour Ben Ghabrit (Michael Lonsdale) as well as the Gestapo major (Christopher Bucholz) situated here very carefully veils the kitty-and-mouse game that could turn lethal anytime. Younges' clumsy spying attempts don't escape clever Ghabrit's attention, as well as the youthful guy becomes a useful go-between working both sides until one misstep abruptly terminates his role as Axis mole. (Oddly, he isn't arrested as punishment.) Formerly cynically apolitical, he evolves more dedicated to Ali's cause, attracted further by feelings for Leila (Lubna Azabal), a apparently nondescript mosque worker who's really deeply mixed up in Algerian liberation struggles. Meanwhile, Younges is periodically attracted into the a lot more selfishly ambitious orbit of Salim (Mahmud Shalaby), a velvet-eyed hedonist who's getting steam just like a potentially great singer in the traditional Algerian style (the character's impressive vocals are named by Moroccan singer Pinhas Cohen). Script by Ferroukhi and Alain-Michel Blanc ("The Concert") deftly weaves these strands into a powerful if under pulse-pounding suspenser, its fairly low-key tenor showing helpful when some climactic business such as the final-minute save from the child risks corny contrivance. With full confidence handled pic is well-cast in the future, with Rahim easily holding center just like a careful protag of handful of words. Ever-reliable veteran Lonsdale and Arab-Israel newcomer Shalaby support standouts. Locations (which briefly stretch towards the other agents) limn a brand new Paris of peaceful religious compounds and yesteryear's ethnic slums. Setup is smartly handled on all levels.Camera (color, widescreen), Jerome Almeras editor, Annette Dutertre music, Armand Amar production designer, Thierry Francois set decorator, Catherine Jarrier-Prieur costume designer, Virginie Montel appear (Dolby Digital), Jean-Paul Mugel, Severin Favriau, Stephane Thiebaud assistant director, Stephane Gluck casting, Brigitte Moidon. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema), Sept. 9, 2011. Running time: 99 MIN.(French, Arabic dialogue) Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com